A new disney hotel in.. kansas city?

[cbconglom]

So I had already seen the news that Disney is holding their shareholder's meeting in kc on march 13th 2012 but then i just read a rumor about them announcing a hotel for kc out by the kansas speedway.

sounds crazy to me but has anyone heard such rumblings?

also i know they have announced a few things at these meetings before like princess and the frog (then still called the frog princess) but have they ever announced anything big like a hotel etc?

thanks in advance!

 

[Ignohippo]

Nice to see someone posting from KC! I used to live there and am in Tampa now. Kansas City is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Totally underrated. a fantastic place to live.

That said, the Kansas Speedway area is so over-saturated at this point. I can't believe Disney would back out of a hotel in Washington DC and then put one in Kansas City, Kansas – not exactly a big vacation destination. There's also Schlitterbahn World Village nearby. If they don't feel the economy is right for them to complete their resort as they've planned (with hotels, shopping, etc.), then I don't know why Disney would want to do it.

Still, I know Disney has wanted a presence in the midwest for quite awhile (rumors had them looking at opening an indoor park in KC back in the 70s-80s). I just don't see it as being a very likely possibility for their second off property resort. I could see it now: "visit the beautiful Disney Resorts in Hawaii, or Kansas City, Kansas!" Not likely.

Where have you heard this rumor? A Google search comes up completely empty.

 

[cbconglom]

thanks, there is some great stuff here!

i read it on mice chat and city data i think.

 

[Horizonsfan]

KC resident here too :wave:

I haven't seen or heard anything though it would not be surprising to see it in Village West. Though, like Ignohippo said, that place is definitely saturated now, esp with the casino opening next month.

The things that make me think that it's plausible are: that Schlitterbahn is a relative dud; that Merlin has been investing heavily on the Missouri side of KC with the Legoland Discovery Center and Sealife Aquarium; that Kansas will give out star bonds to pretty much any national name that comes through; and that Parks & Rec likes hotels/DVC almost more than the parks and it wouldn't surprise me.

Still don't think its going to happen but would love to be proven wrong.

 

[cbconglom]

KC resident here too :wave:

I haven't seen or heard anything though it would not be surprising to see it in Village West. Though, like Ignohippo said, that place is definitely saturated now, esp with the casino opening next month.

The things that make me think that it's plausible are: that Schlitterbahn is a relative dud; that Merlin has been investing heavily on the Missouri side of KC with the Legoland Discovery Center and Sealife Aquarium; that Kansas will give out star bonds to pretty much any national name that comes through; and that Parks & Rec likes hotels/DVC almost more than the parks and it wouldn't surprise me.

Still don't think its going to happen but would love to be proven wrong.

well howdy, thanks for your input.

every time i drive north on 435 past worlds of fun i see that new giant temple they built and think, why couldn't you be a castle?

 

[Mouse Detective]

i just read a rumor about them announcing a hotel for kc out by the kansas speedway.

lol!!!!!!

 

[worldfanatic]

I've been to KC. Nice town.

But please.............Disney's not building a hotel there.

Why on earth would they??:shrug:

 

[WDW1974]

Doesn't pass the sniff test ... Disney has turned up building in tourist meccas from NYC to Newport Beach, from the Colorado Rockies to the Vegas Strip.

KC? After just dropping the D.C. project. Not happening.

~Tweet This~

 

[Horizonsfan]

I've been to KC. Nice town.

But please.............Disney's not building a hotel there.

Why on earth would they??:shrug:

If for no other reason than the fact that KC has harsh summers and winters, its safe to assume this thing is far from a done deal or even being considered.

 

[Pusta100]

As a resident of Kansas City I wish this was true! However I see no reason for them to buid a hotel here.

 

[bgraham34]

I am just surprised nothing has been built in NJ or NYC where much of there DVC members come from. So i would think they would tap that market before most other places.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I am just surprised nothing has been built in NJ or NYC where much of there DVC members come from. So i would think they would tap that market before most other places.

Back in the day (when The Lion King premiered), they were going to build a hotel in Times Square, but decided not to. Foolish--hotels in midtown Manhattan charge (and presumably make) a fortune.

 

[FigmentJedi]

I've been to KC. Nice town.

But please.............Disney's not building a hotel there.

Why on earth would they??:shrug:

Full circle?

 

[prberk]

Nice to see someone posting from KC! I used to live there and am in Tampa now. Kansas City is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Totally underrated. a fantastic place to live.

That said, the Kansas Speedway area is so over-saturated at this point. I can't believe Disney would back out of a hotel in Washington DC and then put one in Kansas City, Kansas – not exactly a big vacation destination. There's also Schlitterbahn World Village nearby. If they don't feel the economy is right for them to complete their resort as they've planned (with hotels, shopping, etc.), then I don't know why Disney would want to do it.

Still, I know Disney has wanted a presence in the midwest for quite awhile (rumors had them looking at opening an indoor park in KC back in the 70s-80s). I just don't see it as being a very likely possibility for their second off property resort. I could see it now: "visit the beautiful Disney Resorts in Hawaii, or Kansas City, Kansas!" Not likely.

Where have you heard this rumor? A Google search comes up completely empty.

Just a clarification. This would be their fourth "off-property" resort, assuming that you define Disneyland resort hotels as "on-property". The first two were Hilton Head Island, SC, and Vero Beach, FL. Aulani was the third.

It seems that people forget those two resorts, which were low-key and perhaps another example of how Disney can do things that don't have to be so bold. It also seems that the cruise line could easily be connected up to marketing for their beach hotels if they tried harder.

As for KC, I don't know, unless it were part of a chain idea... which, done well, could work also. But it would have to be done well and not overexpanded like the Disney Stores were.

 

[Ignohippo]

thanks, there is some great stuff here!

i read it on mice chat and city data i think.

So, you can't even give a source? Sounds like someone heard Disney was holding their convention there and decided to come on a message board and make up a rumor. :wave:

Yes, it's true WD made his start in KC after moving from Marceline, but the Walt Disney Company hasn't given a dime to restore the old Laugh-O-Grams studio http://www.thankyouwaltdisney.org/, so I don't think sentiment alone would cause them to build a resort there.

Besides, we're talking about Kansas City, Kansas – not Kansas City, Missouri (which, as many people don't know, is the actual city of Kansas City). Besides the Speedway area, Kansas City, Kansas is an armpit.

 

[Ignohippo]

Just a clarification. This would be their fourth "off-property" resort, assuming that you define Disneyland resort hotels as "on-property". The first two were Hilton Head Island, SC, and Vero Beach, FL. Aulani was the third.

It seems that people forget those two resorts, which were low-key and perhaps another example of how Disney can do things that don't have to be so bold. It also seems that the cruise line could easily be connected up to marketing for their beach hotels if they tried harder.

As for KC, I don't know, unless it were part of a chain idea... which, done well, could work also. But it would have to be done well and not overexpanded like the Disney Stores were.

Good points. As much as I follow the Walt Disney Company, I've never heard or seen mention of those two other resorts before. What are their names?

Wow. Disney coming up with a chain of hotels. Not something I'd thought of before but definitely intriguing (especially to sell the DVC). Still, it seems like it would be another case of diluting the brand. It would be just another reason to not come to WDW, and especially stay someplace cheaper, if Disney has a hotel in every city anyway.

Still, the WDCo seems to be more about about making the quick buck these days – at the expense of the identity or brand, so nothing would surprise me....

 

[Horizonsfan]

Full circle?

Unfortunately the studio are nothing but an exterior shell right now. Where the studio is isn't exactly the safest or nicest area. There was a movement around 2001 to try and restore the studio and make it a museum but they fell short of their goals.

It'd be nice if while in town this spring, Iger and Co. did something for the space.

Besides, we're talking about Kansas City, Kansas – not Kansas City, Missouri (which, as many people don't know, is the actual city of Kansas City). Besides the Speedway area, Kansas City, Kansas is an armpit.

It's always amusing to see people's looks when you try to explain that there are TWO KCs. Then people actually see KCK and realize why they've only heard of KCMO.:lol:

 

[Ignohippo]

Unfortunately the studio are nothing but an exterior shell right now. Where the studio is isn't exactly the safest or nicest area. There was a movement around 2001 to try and restore the studio and make it a museum but they fell short of their goals.

It'd be nice if while in town this spring, Iger and Co. did something for the space.



It's always amusing to see people's looks when you try to explain that there are TWO KCs. Then people actually see KCK and realize why they've only heard of KCMO.:lol:

As I understand it, renovation is on-going and they have more than half of it complete.

Yeah, it's in a horrible area. Still, I hope to see it next time I'm in KC.

As for the 2 KCs, it doesn't help matters that the "real" Kansas City is actually in Missouri! People just don't get it.

 

[Horizonsfan]

As I understand it, renovation is on-going and they have more than half of it complete.

Yeah, it's in a horrible area. Still, I hope to see it next time I'm in KC.

As for the 2 KCs, it doesn't help matters that the "real" Kansas City is actually in Missouri! People just don't get it.

Oh really? Well that's fantastic news. I had been told that the project was stalled.

Now if only the city would do something to the surrounding area so that folks would feel safe going to visit...

 

[prberk]

Good points. As much as I follow the Walt Disney Company, I've never heard or seen mention of those two other resorts before. What are their names?

Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney's Vero Beach Resort (appropriately enough!!).

You book them through WDW's website (which even still says "accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort" when you select them), or via the Walt Disney Travel Company, and I assume any other normal travel site. They have very reasonable rates, especially off season.

You may see them here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/hotels/?sortBy=nG:hasResortCategoryFacet&fv_78420=on

You may also get to them by going to www.disneyworld.com and, under "Places to Stay," select "Disney Beach Resorts."

It's almost like they haven't known how to make a chain of DVC resorts that are not tied in some way to Walt Disney World. Which is another reason why the "Disney Parks" moniker never made sense -- especially with Aulani opening with a big push. Go back to "Walt Disney Parks AND Resorts" and establish a brand identity that demonstrates the broad range of experiences that Disney offers worldwide -- not just pixie dust and castles.

Go back to what made the Travel Channel feature Disney resorts (not parks) as wonderful places to stay, eat, and pamper yourself....

My thoughts.

Paul